She woke stiffly to the feeling of something hot being pressed against her side. Lana shook herself furiously when she realized she had fallen asleep. Again. The dreaded fuzziness that rest brought her settled in like a drunken haze so she stumbled out into the cold morning air. It was later than she usually left the cave, as if to top off what a bad day she was having already. Cas trotted to her side and breathed in the crisp sunrise visibly, rubbing her warm ears against her companions leg another time. Dark claws trailed along the lynx’s cheek and chin, an affectionate gesture they had long established. The feline purred and backed into the darkness before returning with Lana’s bag in tow. The woman took it from her quickly and started off towards the village, frustration parting the thicket of snow at her ankles.
Drowsiness followed her along the way, darkening her mood even more. She hated sleeping, tried to avoid it every day, but eventually exhaustion caught up. Lighting a cigarette in the dawn, Lana inhaled it gratefully and watched the blue smoke spill from the end. The village came up quick, outlined in hard silver as the sun burned even brighter. It was ugly, the village was, not a very well kept place. The woman slipped into the entrance, cursing as vines and thorns caught her fur. Instantly, the spicy, dangerous smell that lurked in every corner, burst from the center, obviously the source of the territory’s scent. Trained nose could even smell come sort of poison virginally cultivating nearby.
Cas became alert as soon as they were in the heart of the chaos. Luckily, it was still too early for herds to be forming. Together, they slunk into the stillness of the seemingly-dead village, surrounding by stone beasts towering like industrial trees. Suddenly, a shriek cracked the air. Too many more followed for Lana to be genuinely startled. The sound instantly troubled the lynx who had crouched inwardly and appeared to be listening either in pain or angered curiosity. Her companion realized it must be a cat’s yowl.
Dark fingers took the cigarette from her mouth and twisted it leisurely as the two set off in the direction of the disturbingly muffled noise. Skeptical burning amber eyes looked on sharply until her ears swiveled at the sound of a door opening and closing behind her. A snarl curled her lip as she looked over her shoulder at a young wolf and her own two companions. With a radical change, Lana turned and took in the girl behind the thick swoop of her bang. Sucking on her cigarette again, she waited with her permanent smirk while Cas sat beside her, deep jade eyes focusing on the confined kitten.
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